Between three and four hundred men worked on the construction .With Queen Elizabeth of the Romanians being a patron of the arts , detail was not spared on the exterior as well as the interior.

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Look at the trompe l'oeil stonework. Crests and window ornamentation also decorate the facade.

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A quote from Queen Elizabeth of the Romanians during construction helps define the architectural style-Italians were masons, Romanians were building terraces, the Gypsies were coolies. Albanians and Greeks worked in stone, Germans and Hungarians were carpenters. Turks were burning brick. Engineers were Polish and the stone carvers were Czech. The Frenchmen were drawing, the Englishmen were measuring, and so was then when you could see hundreds of national costumes and fourteen languages in which they spoke, sang, cursed and quarreled in all dialects and tones, a joyful mix of men, horses, cart oxen and domestic buffaloes.

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If you can get past the exterior, check out the inside. Beautiful gilding, and mural work along with ornate carved wood fill every corner of the walls.

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And if you can't get there in person-check out this youTube video!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Paris is on my mind because I have two friends in Paris right now and have been receiving emails and photos on a daily basis. Admittedly, I am a little jealous. I would love to be there seeing the sights and eating wonderful food.

But, I have Paris all around me...I am a gatherer..... I gather things as I travel and fill my home with memories of my journeys.

Like the tiny Eiffel Towers and the lovely package from the Crillon.....

My Murano chandelier purchased at the Marche Puces (flea market) that I held through three flights to keep it safe....

The rootstock cork screw that makes me smile whenever I look at it....

Even the "kitschy" things , like the reproduction clocks I bought in a tourist shop...

Paris is all around me...in the sepia engravings I purchased at the Louvre...

and even the small sugar collection in my kitchen! I will board a flight ...in time...to go back, but for now, I am content to stay home and enjoy my part of Paris.

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